With the plot being set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the 1950s and 60s, Kya faces many hardships trying to survive as a young girl on her own. Most of the story focuses on her ability to love, after her family abandoned her so young. The audience is taken on a journey with Kya to find her happiness. Along the way, love interests are introduced, and Kya adapts to the new life she has to live. The plot takes a sharp turn, however, when Kya’s primary love interest Chase Andrews is reported dead and she becomes the main suspect. Kya’s life turns into a constant fight between her, Chase’s parents, law enforcement, and her own morality. But Kya was used to this kind of humiliation that she faced because, for her whole life, everyone called her the “marsh girl” because she was an outsider who lived in the marsh instead of the nice neighborhoods of Barkley Cove. Her only saving grace are her many drawings and nature knick-knacks that she collects. Kya is then taken to trial with a lawyer she doesn’t even know, hoping for the best. Kya was always perceived as a poor, “marsh girl” to the rest of her small town. When the trial comes up, everyone judges her and assumes that she killed Chase. The main idea behind this story is simple: never judge a book by its cover. Even though all of Barkley Cove judged her, Kya still continued on through her life, becoming stronger than ever. 

     The film and novel both focus on the challenges Kya has to face as a young woman. For women around the world, it can be very empowering to see a story like this one. The forced growing up that Kya has to go through highlights the difficulties of growing up – especially as a young woman- all alone. Kya had no mother figure growing up to guide her through life. After her father leaves her all alone for good, Kya adopts a new father-like figure, Jumpin’. Jumpin’ and his wife Mabel owned the goods store near her house and quickly filled in the family presence when everyone left her. I think that it is beneficial to see a young woman overcome her struggles all alone sometimes.